In the face of another political stalemate on Capitol Hill, Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein turned to Roy T. Meyers, professor of political science, to understand the possible impact of a government shutdown. Meyers, a former Congressional Budget Office analyst, argues that we may underestimate the costs of shutdowns by not accounting for the value of lost work hours, decreased federal parks revenue or the reduced pace of IRS audits.

Klein writes, “Meyers suggests that contractors might start charging the government a premium after shutdowns to compensate for the uncertainty of their payments. And a large body of work shows that unstable budget processes at the state level raise borrowing costs. Add those together and a real, sustained shutdown would cost much more than the $1.6 billion that separated this week’s two bills.”

The article, “Government Shutdown Would Cost Much More Than the Two Parties are Fighting Over,” appeared September 26.

The 6th Branch (T6B) is a 501(c)(3) started by veterans of OEF/OIF to bring skills and experience from the military to volunteerism in Baltimore City.  We believe that when presented with the opportunity and solid team to mentor, college-age citizens can step into leadership positions and make a difference. 

"Operation: Oliver" is a Veteran Sponsored Community (VSC) project that began in Fall 2011 in Baltimore City's Oliver neighborhood, an area devastated by economic depression and crime, and made famous by television's The Wire.  Project goals include garbage removal, beautification, safety patrols, and the introduction of art into common spaces.  We hope to create a national model of what a VSC can accomplish.  In this case, it means bringing local businesses and community resources to the area to accomplish not just the short-term goals, but the larger goal of bringing a sense of community and involvement back to Oliver's residents.

The attached position description outlines some of the volunteer opportunities available through Operation: Oliver.  Contact Jeremy Johnson (jeremyj1@umbc.edu) to learn more about the organization and to get involved! 

Students who volunteer with the program for 3-5 hours a week may be eligible for enrollment in the 096 Practicum, which provides a "Service-Learning" notation on a transcript.  Contact Clare Greene (clare6@umbc.edu) for more information on how to connect service with The 6th Branch with the 096 Practicum.  Hurry - deadline for Fall registrations is Thursday, October 6th!